Combined inhaler and spirom eter



NO Mode.)

W. A. SHEPARD.

COMBINED INHALBVR AND SPIROMBTBR. No. 433.153.

Patented July 29, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A.,SI'IEPARD, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED INHALER AND SPIROMETER.

SPECIFICTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,153, dated July 29, 1890.

Application filed December 24,1889. Serial No. 334,867. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SHEPARD,

of Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and uscful Improvements in a Combined Inhaler and Spirometer; and I do hereby declare that the following` is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin gdrawin gs, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. This invention relates to a combined spirometer and inhaler, the object of the invention being to provide means by which to combine the advantages of medical inhalation with exercise of the lungs and a test of breathing capacity. In a prior patent--to wit, No. 331,829, granted to me on the Sth day of December, lSS-I have shown and described a form of spirometer which I have selected for illustration in connection with the present invention as being well adapted for the combination therewith of an inhaling mechanism. So far as my invention is broadly concerned, however, some other forms of spirometers may be employed.

Describing my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central vertical section of a combined spirometer and inhaler, in which the vessel of the inhaler containing a medicated or medicinal substance occupies a position within the body of the spirometer. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the inhaler-vessel, showing the tubes which pass through the stopper thereof and a subsidiary valve which I desirably employ. Fig. 3 is a top view of the vessel of the inhaler.

A represents an annular base, which may have openings at its sides, as shown at a a, to adapt it to rest upon a continuous shelf, or which may be open at its bottom only, if to rest on a bracket or upon an open or slatted shelf.

B is an opentopped cylinder having water tight connection with the base A.

O is a second cylinder, smaller than the cylinder B, resting at its lower and open end upon a ledge a of the base, within and concentric with the cylinder B, said cylinder C being closed at its upper end by atop plate c and forming with the cylinder B an annular space b, which is occupied by a suitable fluid.

D is an open-bottomed cylinder, smaller than the cylinder B and larger than the cylinder C. It is provided with a top (I, and its cylinder part depends in the space b, so as to form an ascending and descending meter or holder which is sealed against the outer air by the fluid in said space b.

D is a tube rising from the top plate d and opening through said plate, but closed at its upper end.

E is a tube which passes with a tight and fixed joint through the top plate c of the innermost cylinder O and has its upper end open within the tube D. Its lower end passes out through one side of the base, where it is provided with a iiexible extension e, terminating in a mouth-piece e.

F is a bottle or vessel intended to contain volatile medicinal substance, (represent-ed in the present case as a liquid,) partially filling the bottle. It has a stopper f, provided with three vertical openings. One of these is occupied by a tube f', open at top and bottom, and reaching to a point below the surface of the liquid, and preferably to near the bottorn ot' the bottle. A second opening is occupied by a tube f2, terminating at its lower end above the surface of the liquid and con nectcd at its upper end with the tube E through a downwardly-closing checlevalvef. The third passage f4 is provided at its upper end with-a light and sensitive ap-valve f, made,ifo,r example, from a piece of flexible leather or chamoisshin, said valve being adapted to rise when subjected to a pressure from below less than is suiiieient to expel the liquid through the tube f.

In the construction shown the vessel F is shown resting on a ledge orshelf f 6, as amat- I ter of convenience in enabling the whole apn paratus to be moved together more handily.

In the use of the apparatus described the mouth-pieee e is taken between the lips and the lungs inflated through the tube Ec. The air which fills the lungs in this operation is thus drawn through the inhaler,'said air iirst entering the tubef, rising through the liquid inthe vessel F, passing up through the tube f2 and cheek-valve f3, and onward through ICO the tube E e to the lungs. After in tiation of the lungs in the manner described the breath is expelled through the same mouth-piece, and the check-valve f3 closing downward, the air thus expelled is forced through the upper end of the tube E. This causes the cylinder D to rise, as indicated in dotted lines of Fig. l, said cylinder D being raised a distance variable with the quantity of breath expelled. In the rise of the cylinder D the tube D protrudes through the open top of the outer cylinder B, and the extent of its protrusion may be indicated by graduated marks thereon, as illustrated in my former patent. Such graduations may have reference either to the top of thevouter cylinder B or to th'e top of the inner tube E.

I have found it diicult to make a reliable check-valve at f 3 which will not give passage to some amount of air, and any defect in said valve, either in its original construction or resulting from use, Will allowv air being expelled from the lungs to enter the inhalervessel F and force the liquid therefrom up through the tube f. To guard against this objectionable action, I have provided the secondary valvef, already described as capable of being lifted by less pressure than will elevate the liquid to the top of the tube f By means of this secondary valve f5, therefore,

any air escaping through the valve f3 will pass out of the bottle F without expelling the liquid. A single perfect check-valve at f3 will of course render the other unnecessary.

The details of construction may manifestly 1. The combination of a spirometer, an inhaler, and a mouth-tube connected with both the spirometer and inhaler.

2. The combination, With a spirometer having a mouthtube, of an inhaling-vessel connected With the outer air and also with the mouth-tube of the spirometer, the passage for the inlet of air through the inhaler to the mouth-tube being provided With a checkvalve.

3. The combination of a spirometer, its mouth-tube, an inhaler-vessel provided with an induction-tube, an eduction-tube of the inhaler connected with the mouth-tube of-the spirometer and provided with a check-valve, and a secondary check-valve exposed to pressure in the air-spaceof the inhaling-vessel and adapted to yield to less pressurethan Will raise the liquid to the top of the induction-tube.

4. The unitary apparatus, substantially as described, comprising a spirometer having an interior chamber, and an inhaling-vessel F, located Within said chamber of the spirometer, substantially as described.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VILLIAIWI A. SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. McDoNALD,

J. P. MANN. 

